XN000022-1987-02-06 — Page 19

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 1987

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LAB TO DISCUSS OVERTIME, MATERNITY ISSUES

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A LABOUR DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY (FRIDAY) THAT THE LABOUR ADVISORY BOARD WOULD BE CONSULTED SHORTLY ON THE NEED TO PROVIDE MORE FLEXIBILITY IN THE CONTROL OF OVERTIME WORK BY FEMALE WORKERS IN INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS WITHIN THE EXISTING LEGAL FRAMEWORK.

THIS FOLLOWS AN INTERNAL REVIEW BY THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT OF THE PROVISIONS GOVERNING THE EMPLOYMENT OF WOMEN AND YOUNG PERSONS UNDER THE EMPLOYMENT ORDINANCE.

THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN STRESSED, HOWEVER, THAT NO CHANGES ARE BEING PROPOSED TO THE EXISTING LEGISLATION RESTRICTING THE HOURS OF OVERTIME A WOMAN IN INDUSTRY IS PERMITTED TO WORK, THAT IS TWO HOURS A DAY OR 200 HOURS A YEAR.

THE BOARD WILL ALSO BE CONSULTED ON THE REMOVAL OF SOME ANOMALIES IN THE LEGISLATION IN RESPECT OF MATERNITY LEAVE.

+THE INTENTION IS TO CLARIFY THE LEGISLATION IN OFFERING PROTECTION TO A PREGNANT WORKER BEFORE CONFINEMENT AND TO PROVIDE FLEXIBILITY TO ENABLE HER TO RESUME WORK FOUR WEEKS AFTER GIVING BIRTH IF SHE SO WISHES, WITHOUT PREJUDICING HER EXISTING ENTITLEMENT TO PAID MATERNITY LEAVE FOR 10 WEEKS,+ THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

PAPERS OUTLINING DETAILED PROPOSALS ON THE OVERTIME AND MATERNITY ISSUES WILL BE SUBMITTED TO THE LABOUR ADVISORY BOARD FOR CONSIDERATION AT ITS NEXT MEETING IN EARLY MARCH.

HANG LUNG BANK NOW RECEIVES FUND DONATIONS

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THE HANG LUNG BANK AND ITS 26 BRANCHES THROUGHOUT THE TERRITORY WILL NOW ACCEPT DONATIONS TO THE SIR EDWARD YOUDE FUND A SPOKESMAN FOR THE CITY AND NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION SAID TODAY (FRIDAY).

+ IT IS NOW VERY CONVENIENT FOR THE PUBLIC TO MAKE A DONATION TO THE FUND, THE SPOKESMAN SAID, ADDING THAT 53 SUB-OFFICES OF THE CITY AND NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION AS WELL AS AROUND 300 BRANCHES OF THE HONGKONG AND SHANGHAI BANKING CORPORATION AND HANG SENG BANK HAD ALREADY BEEN RECEIVING DONATIONS.

HE NOTED THAT THE FUND WOULD SUPPORT THE FURTHER DEVELOPMENT OF EDUCATION TO WHICH THE LATE GOVERNOR ATTACHED MUCH IMPORTANCE.

+NO AMOUNT IS TOO SMALL IN MEMORY OF A MAN WHO CONTRIBUTED SO MUCH TO HONG KONG, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

BY THIS AFTERNOON, THE FUND HAD RECEIVED $64.3 MILLION.

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